Electrode Grinding System

ABSTRACT

An electrode grinding system includes a vise that may be mounted to a support surface. A grinder is provided and a grinding wheel is rotatably coupled to the grinder. A guide is coupled to the grinder and the grinding wheel is positioned within the guide. The guide is positionable in the vise such that the grinding wheel is retained in a selected orientation. An electrode is provided and the electrode is positioned in a drill. The drill is positioned such that the electrode frictionally engages the grinding wheel. Thus, the grinding wheel shapes the electrode.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to grinding devices and more particularly pertains to a new grinding device for grinding TIG electrodes.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a vise that may be mounted to a support surface. A grinder is provided and a grinding wheel is rotatably coupled to the grinder. A guide is coupled to the grinder and the grinding wheel is positioned within the guide. The guide is positionable in the vise such that the grinding wheel is retained in a selected orientation. An electrode is provided and the electrode is positioned in a drill. The drill is positioned such that the electrode frictionally engages the grinding wheel. Thus, the grinding wheel shapes the electrode.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an electrode grinding system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new grinding device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the electrode grinding system 10 generally comprises a vise 12 that may be mounted to a support surface. The support surface may comprise a work bench or the like. A grinder 14 is provided and a grinding wheel 16 is rotatably coupled to the grinder 14. The grinding wheel 16 comprises a diamond grinding wheel. The grinder 14 has an output shaft 18 and the grinding wheel 16 is rotatably coupled to the output shaft 18. The grinding wheel 16 has a grinding surface 20 and a peripheral edge 22. The grinder 14 may comprise a hand-held angle grinder or the like.

A guide 24 is coupled to the grinder 14 and the grinding wheel 16 is positioned within the guide 24. The guide 24 is positionable in the vise 12 such that the grinding wheel 16 is retained in a selected orientation. The guide 24 comprises a plate 26 that has a first surface 28 and a second surface 30. The plate 26 is coupled to the grinder 14 and the output 18 shaft extends through the plate 26. The plate 26 has an aperture 32 extending through the first surface 28 and the second surface 30. The aperture 32 is aligned with the peripheral edge 22 of the grinding wheel 16.

A cover 34 is provided that has a first wall 36 and a peripheral wall 38. The peripheral wall 38 is coupled to and extends away from the first wall 36. The peripheral wall 38 is coextensive with an outer edge 40 of the first wall 36. The peripheral wall 38 has a first lateral side 42, a first longitudinal side 44 and a distal edge 46 with respect to the first wall 36.

The first wall 36 has an opening 48 extending therethrough and the opening 48 is substantially coextensive with the first longitudinal side 44. The opening 48 is aligned with an intersection 50 of the first longitudinal side 44 and the first lateral side 42. The opening 48 extends downwardly along the first longitudinal side 44 to define a first bounding edge 52 of the opening 48. The first bounding edge 52 slopes downwardly from the intersection 50. The first bounding edge 52 may slope at an angle ranging between approximately fifteen degrees and thirty degrees. The opening 48 additionally extends along the first lateral side 42.

The distal edge 46 abuts the first surface 28 of the plate 26 such that the grinding surface 20 is substantially exposed in the opening 48. A plurality of fasteners 54 is provided. Each of the fasteners 54 may extend through the first wall 36 and engage the plate 26. Thus, the cover 34 is removably coupled to the plate 26. Each of the fasteners 54 may comprise a screw or the like.

An electrode 56 is provided and the electrode 56 may be coupled to a welder. The welder may comprise a TIG welder or the like and the electrode 56 may comprise a TIG electrode. The electrode 56 has a first end 58 and the electrode 56 is comprised of tungsten. The electrode 56 is insertable through the opening 48 and the aperture 32 such that the peripheral edge 22 of the grinding wheel 16 abrades the electrode 56 at a selected point. Thus, the electrode 56 may be cut to a desired length.

A drill 60 is provided and the electrode 56 is positioned in the drill 60. The drill 60 is actuatable to rotate the electrode 56 about a longitudinal axis extending through the drill and the first end 58. The drill 60 is positioned such that the electrode 56 frictionally engages the grinding wheel 16. Thus, the grinding wheel 16 shapes the electrode 56. The drill 60 may comprise a cordless drill or the like.

The electrode 56 is tilted to match a slope of the first bounding edge 52 of the opening 48. The electrode 56 is manipulated such that the first end 58 frictionally engages the grinding surface 20. Thus, the first end 58 is ground at an angle that matches the slope of the first bounding edge 52. A collete 62 is provided and collete 62 may be selectively attached to the drill 60. The electrode 56 may be attached to the collete 62 thereby spacing the electrode 56 from the drill 60. Thus, the electrode 56 may be ground to a length of less than 3 cm.

In use, guide 24 is positioned in the vise 12 such that the grinding surface 20 is positioned at a selected orientation. The electrode 56 is positioned in the drill 60 and the grinder 14 is turned on. The drill 60 is actuated to rotate the electrode 56 and the first end 58 of the electrode 56 is positioned to frictionally engage the grinding surface 20. The drill 60 is manipulated such that the electrode 56 is tilted at an angle that matches the slope of the first bounding edge 52. Thus, the first end 58 of the electrode 56 is shaped at an angle required for TIG welding. The electrode 56 is ground when the electrode 56 becomes contaminated during welding and when the first end 58 of the electrode 56 needs to be reshaped. The electrode 56 may be held by hand when the electrode 56 is positioned against the grinding wheel 16.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. An electrode grinding system comprising: a vise being configured to be mounted to a support surface; a grinder having a grinding wheel being rotatably coupled to said grinder, said grinding wheel comprising a diamond grinding wheel; a guide being coupled to said grinder, said grinding wheel being positioned within said guide, said guide being positionable in said vise such that said grinding wheel is retained in a selected orientation; an electrode being configured to be coupled to a welder, said electrode being comprised of tungsten; and a drill having said electrode being positioned therein, said drill being actuatable to rotate said electrode, said drill being positioned having said electrode frictionally engaging said grinding wheel such that said grinding wheel shapes said electrode.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said grinder has an output shaft, said grinding wheel being rotatably coupled to said output shaft, said grinding wheel having a grinding surface and a peripheral edge.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said guide comprises a plate having a first surface and a second surface, said plate being coupled to said grinder having said output shaft extending through said plate, said plate having an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface, said aperture being aligned with said peripheral edge of said grinding wheel.
 4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a cover having a first wall and a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending away from said first wall, said peripheral wall being coextensive with an outer edge of said first wall, said peripheral wall having a first lateral side, a first longitudinal side and a distal edge with respect to said first wall, said first wall having an opening extending therethrough, said opening being substantially coextensive with said first longitudinal side.
 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein: said grinding wheel has a grinding surface; said guide includes a plate having a first surface; and said opening is aligned with an intersection of said first longitudinal side and said first lateral side, said opening extending downwardly along said first longitudinal side to define a first bounding edge of said opening, said first bounding edge sloping downwardly from said intersection, said distal edge abutting said first surface of said plate such that said grinding surface is substantially exposed in said opening.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein: said plate has an aperture; and said electrode has a first end, said electrode being insertable through said opening and said aperture such that a peripheral edge of said grinding wheel abrades said electrode at a selected point wherein said electrode is configured to be cut to a desired length.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said electrode is tilted to match a slope of said first bounding edge of said opening having said first end frictionally engaging said grinding surface such that said first end is ground at a selected angle.
 8. An electrode grinding system comprising: a vise being configured to be mounted to a support surface; a grinder having a grinding wheel being rotatably coupled to said grinder, said grinding wheel comprising a diamond grinding wheel, said grinder having an output shaft, said grinding wheel being rotatably coupled to said output shaft, said grinding wheel having a grinding surface and a peripheral edge; a guide being coupled to said grinder, said grinding wheel being positioned within said guide, said guide being positionable in said vise such that said grinding wheel is retained in a selected orientation, said guide comprising: a plate having a first surface and a second surface, said plate being coupled to said grinder having said output shaft extending through said plate, said plate having an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface, said aperture being aligned with said peripheral edge of said grinding wheel, and a cover having a first wall and a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending away from said first wall, said peripheral wall being coextensive with an outer edge of said first wall, said peripheral wall having a first lateral side, a first longitudinal side and a distal edge with respect to said first wall, said first wall having an opening extending therethrough, said opening being substantially coextensive with said first longitudinal side, said opening being aligned with an intersection of said first longitudinal side and said first lateral side, said opening extending downwardly along said first longitudinal side to define a first bounding edge of said opening, said first bounding edge sloping downwardly from said intersection, said distal edge abutting said first surface of said plate such that said grinding surface is substantially exposed in said opening; an electrode being configured to be coupled to a welder, said electrode having a first end, said electrode being comprised of tungsten, said electrode being insertable through said opening and said aperture such that said peripheral edge of said grinding wheel abrades said electrode at a selected point wherein said electrode is configured to be cut to a desired length; and a drill having said electrode being positioned therein, said drill being actuatable to rotate said electrode, said drill being positioned having said electrode frictionally engaging said grinding wheel such that said grinding wheel shapes said electrode, said electrode being tilted to match a slope of said first bounding edge of said opening having said first end frictionally engaging said grinding surface such that said first end is ground at a selected angle. 